Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Three-R-Model

Declining
literacy rates continue to challenge educators, and frankly, anyone who cares
about an educated society. Growing up in a single parent household that never
had a book in the house I find that fact sad and troubling.

Perhaps
that’s why I wasn’t too surprised or bothered by the fact that close to ten
thousand books made their way through our house this summer on their way to
better bookshelves. My wife, Sharon, had initiated this book drive three years
ago. The first year it was three thousand books collected and distributed. Last
year, it was over six thousand books distributed.

The
book drive followed a three-R’s model: read, recycle, and reach. Sharon
explained “We want families to read and enjoy the books that they have, and
then when they are done with them or have moved on to a new reading level we
want them to recycle the books by donating them to this project. By giving away
their used books, these readers are reaching out to students who might not have
any books at home.”

Reflecting
back, I realized my love of reading grew exponentially while sitting on some
newspaper customer’s doorstep. Whether I was perusing the Saint Paul Pioneer
Press in the morning or the Saint Paul Dispatch at night I found myself
immersed in newspaper articles about a world I never knew existed.

Reading
had never been a part of my life before I started my paper route in seventh
grade. Newspapers, magazines and books were luxuries my mother couldn’t afford.
There was never any reading material in our house save for one book on Padre
Pio. My mother probably bought that book out of guilt some Sunday morning after
Mass.

About
the same time, I began a newspaper route my friend introduced me to our local
library. The first book I read was ‘The Enemy Below’ since I was fascinated
with World War II; go figure. Then Tarzan, the Hardy Boys and western novels
carried me into a world my imagination readily devoured.

Since
that initial brush with the printed page, reading has always been an important
part of my life. There will never be enough time to read all the books I’ve got
piled up around the house. We have libraries for the grandchildren here and
there. Each has their own library in their rooms. Books matter to all of us.

It’s
also been the impetuous for my second career as a writer.

Ever
the educator, Sharon said the ability to read, and to read critically, is one
of the most crucial factors to a student’s success. Access to information is
becoming easier (screen time) BUT the skills needed to critically evaluate it
comes from reading.

In
Dakota County alone, there are over 1600 ELL students who will use the books. At
the October 4th meeting of Apple Valley Rotary, District 196
Superintendent Jane Berenz spoke about the Reading Recovery Program in ISD 196
and how the intervention program has helped the literacy level of first
graders.

She
explained that “the ELL Program in district 196 supports learners in acquiring
the English they need in order to succeed in the classroom and beyond, in
accordance with the State of Minnesota Guidelines and English Language
Proficiency Standards. Teachers who are fully certified in teaching English as
a Second Language work with these ELL students at all ele-mentary, middle and
high schools in the district.”

Ms.
Berenz went on to explain that the ELL program develops English skills in
reading, writing, and speaking, as well as the language of academic content.
The ELL staff is trained in the same best literacy practices as classroom
teachers. She said the need for simple children’s books is critical for these
students to practice their reading skills.

This
year, the district hopes to initiate a new program that will provide certain
school buses with boxes of books. The idea is that a student can borrow a book
on their way to or from school and return it as they exit the bus. The district
will also hold on to thousands of books to distribute next summer at various
district-sponsored camps and events. This past summer they gave away over two
thousand books at ‘Adventures in Learning,’ a week-long summer program for
elementary-aged English Language Learners.

The
program is working…and well. Out of the twenty-three seniors who were in the
English Learner program for last year, nineteen students were enrolled in a
two-year or four-year college. Fourteen students were heading to a two-year
college and five were going to a four-year institution of higher education.

But
to bring the world of reading to these children and open a whole new world for
them is a small price to pay for cramp quarters and books piled up in every
corner of our house. I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to be transformed
into another world of rolling seas, desert plateaus and the young boys down the
block.

I
return to those worlds every chance I get. And feel blessed to be able to
create them myself for others to enjoy.